The Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP) is one of two programmes that make up the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem (FAME) Division of SPC, the other one being the Oceanic Fisheries Programme. The CFP’s goal is: “coastal fisheries, nearshore fisheries and aquaculture in Pacific Island Countries and Territories are managed and developed sustainably”. The CFP is made up of three sections: Aquaculture, Nearshore Fisheries Development and Coastal Fisheries Science and Management.

Our fisheries programme was established in 1954, two years after hosting the first Fisheries Conference in Noumea in 1952 and six years after SPC itself was founded in 1947. Since then, the development of both SPC’s fisheries programmes and the Fisheries Newsletter has reflected the fundamental economic and cultural significance of this sector to Pacific Island people. Two feature articles in this 150th edition trace the evolution of SPC’s Coastal and Oceanic Fisheries Programmes, which are now the two main programmes of FAME.

Identification guide to the common coastal food fishes of the Pacific Islands region

This identification guide has been produced by SPC to assist fisheries officers with the identification of the common coastal food fishes encountered in catches or during market surveys. The guide contains approximately 320 of the most commonly targeted coastal sharks, rays and bony fishes in the Pacific Islands region. Catches of coastal finfish in the Pacific Island countries and territories are typically characterised by a wide variety of species from many different taxonomic families.

A new publication summarises the findings of a two-month consultancy on small-scale fishing vessel (ssfv) registration in PICTs. SSFVs are recognised as major contributors to national food security and improving the availability of such information is an important goal. Registration can also help guide policy on food security, improve artisanal fisheries management, and gain better support and recognition for the fishers themselves. The report outlines the challenges and documents many of the current systems. One of the main recommendations is the need for the different national sectors (fisheries, transport, sea-safety) to work together. It is hoped that this publication will help stimulate discussions between the relevant groups.

The Coastal Fishery Report Card provides annual high-level reporting on the current status of Pacific coastal fisheries in relation to the goals, indicators and strategies adopted in the Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries.

The Tuna Fishery Report Card provides a high-level overview of the current status of Pacific tuna fisheries in relation to key goals, indicators and strategies adopted in the Roadmap.

The 2016 Report Cards are the first to report against key indicators for each of the Roadmap result areas